CU Direct Corporation Elects New Board Members
CU Direct Corporation announced the election of the 2003 - 2004 board of directors. Diana Dykstra, president and CEO, Vandenberg Federal Credit Union, was elected chairman of the board and succeeds, John M. Merlo, president and CEO, Premier America Credit Union. Dykstra, who developed the original technology for the CUDL system also helped establish the company in 1994. She served as vice chairman last year and has served as a board member from December 1994 to November 1997, and again from June 2000 to present.
Commenting on the elections, Tony Boutelle, president and CEO of CU Direct said, "Diana has played an instrumental role in CU Direct Corporation for a number of years. She is dedicated to our mission of supporting credit unions and their members. Our management team looks forward to working with her and the board to help credit unions continue to increase their auto lending market share and profitability."
Henry Wirz, president and CEO, SAFE Credit Union will serve as vice chairman and Jim Jordan, president and CEO, Schools Financial Credit Union is the new secretary/treasurer. Other elected board members include Barry Jolette, president and CEO, San Mateo Credit Union; Terry Halleck, president and CEO, The Golden 1 Credit Union; Marge McNaught, senior vice president, lending & technology, Premier America Credit Union; and Patsy Van Ouwerkerk, president and CEO, Travis Credit Union.
Based in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, CU Direct Corporation administers the Credit Union Direct Lending (CUDL) program, which allows members to receive credit union financing at the auto dealership through an automated decisioning system. CU Direct develops custom applications, training, and marketing programs to help credit unions achieve their indirect lending goals. The CUDL program includes 1,972 dealerships and 256 participating credit unions in California, Nevada, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Florida. In 2002, participating CUDL credit unions funded 177,011 contracts for more than $3.3 billion in credit union auto financing. For more information visit www.cudirect.com.
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